Down tools

Let’s face it, January is not the busiest time of the year for working in the garden. But if you think of January in the garden as the outdoor equivalent of the “spring clean” you give your home you will be well prepared for the next round of work this year.As much as we try to always clean our tools after using them, and religiously oil our secateurs and shears, sometimes these jobs are overlooked - especially when you’ve just finished a long days work outdoors, it’s cold and dark and all you can think about is a hot bath and a cup of tea!More than any other of my tools, my Felco secateurs bear the brunt of a years hard gardening. They are of great sentimental value, being the first garden tool I owned when I took up gardening as a career. Felco (www.worldoffelco.co.uk) offer a fantastic service whereby you send them your (t)rusty old secateurs, and for £12.99 they will service them and send them back to you literally as good as new - shiny and gleaming and ready for action.You should also think about getting your lawn mower serviced now before the grass starts growing again in the spring, and when there’ll be a rush on for mower servicing. It’s worth going to an authorised dealer to ensure you get the best possible service - a bad service could invalidate the warranty on your machine. You could start by looking at www.mowerpro.co.uk to find a dealer in your area.For the rest of your tools - spades, forks, hoes etc - it should be enough to give them a good wash with some warm soapy water, ensuring that you dry them thoroughly afterwards so that they don’t rust.Armed with your shiny clean tools, you’ll be itching to get out into the garden again and get them dirty!I also wanted to pass on a good find from Muji. While I was doing my Christmas shopping I came across this ‘Garden Multi-Tool’ which comes in a little blue velcro pouch and was only £6.80. I was sceptical as to how robust it would be, having bought cheap tools before which didn’t last five minutes, but so far I’m very impressed. Now I have a back-up to use while I send my Felcos off on their annual spa! Click below for more details.http://www.muji.eu/pages/online.asp?V=1&Sec=7&Sub=35&PID=2778

"Hi Henry - Sounds like the starter motor is trying to turn the engine over but it has jammed. You could try freeing it off by rocking the machine backwards and forwards. It may work. Did for me on an Etesia 124. Good luck."

"I'm trying out Uncle Tom's Rose Tonic this year as well as Sulphur Rose and am keen to see the results. Obviously I can't recommend them yet, but will report back if they work. "

"Hi John, thanks for replying, a little bit of ethanol free fuel was left in. Sorry maybe I wasn't so clear in my original message, but it doesn't even try and crank, just get that single highlighted solenoid click and nothing from the starter…"